Convertible golf club cart and case



' Sept- 1964 s. s. AMENDOLA CONVERTIBLE GOLF CLUB CART AND CASE Filed NOV. 13, 1962 I NVEN TOR. 56/7216! 5 llll United States Patent 3,147,022 CONVERTIBLE GOLF CLUB CART AND CASE Samuel S. Amendola, 335 Main St., Wray, Colo. Filed Nov. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 237,094 6 Claims. (Cl. 280-37) This invention relates to golf equipment and particularly to a case for carrying golf clubs, balls and other items necessary for playing the game of golf, which may be quickly and easily converted into a golf cart for transporting said items about the course, while playing the game, for example.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a case of the above mentioned type which is self-contained and which eliminates the necessity of obtaining a conventional cart for carrying the clubs used by the golfer. When folded with the equipment therein, the case is similar to a suitcase and is thus easily transportable.

Simplicity of construction and economy of manufacture are other objects of my invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing forming part of my application, and wherein like reference char acters indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is.a perspective view of the improved golf cart in collapsed position as a carrying case.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the case with the three cover portions opened 180.

FIG. 3 is a view of the apparatus as it would appear in use as a golf cart.

FIG. 4 is a section on line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a section like FIG. 4 except that the tubing 31) is within the sides of the cover portion 4.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that the case, indicated generally at A, comprises a bottom 1, end wall 2, side walls 33, and a narrow end wall 12 connecting end walls 3-3 as shown in FIG. 2. This end will be termed the forward end of the case. The forward margin of the side walls 3-3 have indents 1414 formed therein for receiving the narrow sides of the cover portion 8, hereinafter described.

The cover for the box is formed in three parts, 4, 5, and 8. Parts 4 and 5 are each in width half the width of the case and are hinged along the outer edges thereof to the top of the side walls 33 by piano hinges indicated at 16-16, so that when in closed position they meet at the longitudinal center of the case. The forward edges of parts 4 and 5 terminate in dissymmetrical ogee curves, which are oppositely disposed, as shown at 9 in the drawings, and the termination is short of the end 12 of the case. When the cover parts 4 and 5 are closed, it leaves an area closable by the part 8, it having an edge comprising curved portions conforming to the ogee curved edges of parts 4 and 5. Portion 8 also has small side portions 17-17 which, when portion 8 is closed, fill the indents 1414 and complete the sides of the case. Portion 8 is also provided with an end wall 18 hinged as at 15 to the upper edge of end wall 12 to therewith complete the end of the case. Portion 8 is also provided along the under side of its forward edge with a hinge 21 hingedly uniting portion 8 with the forward edge of the bottom 1 of the case so that the portion may be swung completely around and up against the bottom 1 of the case. A handle 25 is provided, it being a U-shaped tube, the ends of which are secured to the inside of the side walls 33 as shown in FIGURE 2. When the device is used as a cart, this handle 25 may be grasped by the golfer and used to pull the cart about the golf course.

A look 13 of any desired kind is provided on cover portion 8 to secure the same in closed position when desired.

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Cover portions 4 and 5 are of somewhat substantial thickness and are of hollow construction similar to a flush type door. Within the hollow portion of each cover portion is installed at least a pair of tubes 19, the end of each tube terminating at the ogee edge 9 of the cover portion. Within these tubes may be carried the longest golf club woods, indicated at 20.

A block 10 is secured at the end 2 of the case, it being hollow and having a series of slots 22 therein in the forward wall thereof, through which the heads of the club irons may be placed when carried in the case. A partition 11 of resilient material is secured to the bottom 1 of the case extending transversely thereacross between the sides 3-3. This partition is provided with spaced slots therein in which may be pressed the handle end of the shafts 7 of the clubs so that they may be held firmly therein while being transported. The slots open through the upper edge, and are of sufficient width and depth so that the club shafts may be easily pressed therein but be firmly held. The block 10 does not completely fill the end of the case, leaving a space above same equal in depth to the thickness of the cover portions 4 and 5, which rest on block 10 when they are closed.

The cover portion 4 is provided with a narrow length of rectangular tubing indicated at 30 which is applied to the surface of the cover portion 4 as shown in FIG. 3. The outer side wall of this tubing is provided with a slot 6 as shown. This tubing 30 extends diagonally across the outer approximate half of the cover portion. The inner approximate half of the cover portion 4 is occupied by the tubes 18 for holding the clubs 20. Within this tubing 30 is slidably installed a block indicated at 23 from which, projecting outwardly through the slot, is an axle 24 on which wheel 26 is mounted. Block 23 is of sufficient dimension so that as it abuts the inner surface of the tubing 30 on opposite sides of the slot 6, while the hub of the wheel 26 abuts opposite sides of the slot 6 on the outer surface of the tubing 39, the wheel and block may slide along the slot. When in the position shown in FIG. 3, the wheel 26 is in position for use of the case as a cart. When in position at the other end of the slot, the cover portion 4 may be closed on its hinge 16 so that wheel 26 will then be inside the box, and not interfere with the wheel 36 rotatably mounted on cover portion 5. The cover portions 4 and 5 are formed at their forward edges with the dissymmetrical ogee curves so that when closing the cover portions the sliding wheel 26 will be able to pass by the ogee shaped edge of the cover portion 5. This rectangular tubing 30 may be applied to the cover portion 4 within the bounding planes of the side surfaces thereof, with a slot coextensive in width and length with the slot 6 and communicating therewith, so that the tubing 30 will be within the cover portion 4, rather than on an outer surface thereof as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This modification is shown in FIG. 5.

The stub axle 34 for the wheel 36 is fixed to the cover portion 5 in any desired manner, as this wheel does not slide on its cover portion.

Locks or catches are provided as indicated at 32, on both cover portions 45 so as to hold the cover portions in the position shown in FIG. 3 when the device is used as a cart.

A handle of any desired form is indicated at 40 so that the case when closed may be carried about much like a suitcase.

From the foregoing it is apparent how the device operates. When folded as shown in FIG. 1, the case may be carried about the grasping handle 40, much as a suitcase is carried.

When it is desired to use the case as a golf cart, lock 13 is operated to release the three parts of the cover, which are then opened on their respective hinges 15 and 21 and 16-16. The cover portions 4-5 are rotated on their hinges 16-16 270 or until they abut tlatwise against the sides 33 of the case where they are secured by the locks 32. Likewise, the portion 8 of the cover is rotated on its hinge 21 until it abuts fiatwise against the bottom of the case. Wheel 26 is then slid in slot 6 to the lower end of the slot, at which place the wheels are opposite each other and by which wheels the cart may be moved in the ordinary manner.

From the foregoing it is apparent that a very convenient golf cart, collapsible into a carrying case, has been provided.

I claim:

1. A combination golf club case and cart comprising in combination: a rigid rectangular case having foldable cover portions hinged to the edges of opposite sides of said case and swingable from a position closing said case to open position abutting the outer surface of said sides, means across one end margin of said case adapted to removably contain in spaced relation the heads of a plurality of golf clubs, means transversely across the approximate center of said case adapted to removably hold the shafts of said golf clubs, 21 wheel rotatably mounted adjacent one end of one of said cover portions and contained Within the case when the cover is in closed position, and in ground engaging position when the cover is in open position, a second wheel rotatably and slidably mounted on another cover portion, said second wheel being slidable from one to the other end of said cover portion, and when in position opposite the other Wheel the case may be used as a cart, and when slid to a position out of alignment with the other wheel, the covers may be closed without interference of the two wheels.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, said rotatable and slidable wheel mounting comprising a rectangular tubing secured to a cover portion and extending from one end margin to the other of said cover, the outer surface of said tubing having a slot therein substantially coextensive with the tubing, a block slidable Within said tubing, a wheel journal projecting outwardly from said block through said slot, and said wheel being rotatably mounted on said journal.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein a foldable cover portion is provided with means therein, where in the longest of said golf clubs may he carried.

4. The structure set forth in cltim 1, wherein each foldable cover portion is provided with means for housing at least a pair of said golf clubs.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1, said cover portions having means installed therein wherein the longest of said golf clubs may be carried.

6. A combination golf club case and cart comprising in combination: a rigid rectangular case having foldable cover portions hinged to the sides of said case and swingable from a position closing said case to open position abutting the outer sides of said case, means for carrying a plurality of golf clubs within said case, a wheel rotatably mounted on one of said cover portions adjacent one end thereof and contained within the case when the cover is in closed position, and in ground engaging position when the cover is in open position, a second wheel rolatabiy and slidably mounted on another cover portion, said second wheel being slidahle from adjacent one end of said cover to adjacent the other end of said cover, and when in position opposite said other wheel and the covers are open, the case may be used as a cart, and when said second wheel is slid to a position out of alinement with said first mentioned wheel, the covers may be closed without interference of the two wheels.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 832,628 Schrefller Oct. 9, 1906 2,726,874 Sullivan Dec. 13, 1955 2,760,782 I-Iartzell Aug. 28, 1956 2,837,346 Chambless June 3, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 454,887 Canada Mar. 1, 1949 

1. A COMBINATION GOLF CLUB CASE AND CART COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A RIGID RECTANGULAR CASE HAVING FOLDABLE COVER PORTIONS HINGED TO THE EDGES OF OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CASE AND SWINGABLE FROM A POSITION CLOSING SAID CASE TO OPEN POSITION ABUTTING THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SIDES, MEANS ACROSS ONE END MARGIN OF SAID CASE ADAPTED TO REMOVABLY CONTAIN IN SPACED RELATION THE HEADS OF A PLURALITY OF GOLF CLUBS, MEANS TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE APPROXIMATE CENTER OF SAID CASE ADAPTED TO REMOVABLY HOLD THE SHAFTS OF SAID GOLF CLUBS, A WHEEL ROTATABLY MOUNTED ADJACENT ONE END OF ONE OF SAID COVER PORTIONS AND CONTAINED WITHIN THE CASE WHEN THE COVER IS IN CLOSED POSITION, AND IN GROUND ENGAGING POSITION WHEN THE COVER IS IN OPEN POSITION, A SECOND WHEEL ROTATABLY AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON ANOTHER COVER PORTION, SAID SECOND WHEEL BEING SLIDABLE FROM ONE TO THE OTHER END OF SAID COVER PORTION, AND WHEN IN POSITION OPPOSITE THE OTHER WHEEL THE CASE MAY BE USED AS A CART, AND WHEN SLID TO A POSITION OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH THE OTHER WHEEL, THE COVERS MAY BE CLOSED WITHOUT INTERFERENCE OF THE TWO WHEELS. 